The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-05
AN odd mistake.
By MRS. E. BURKE coIL1Ns.

to fail, and that tired, patient look
deepehed in her eyes. and her face was
always pale and thoughtful, / was en-
abled, through my little savings, to pro-
pose q trip for the benefit of her health.
How proud I was that morning when
I placed little purse in her hand, and
told her to choose some pleasant retreat
away from the heat and hustle and din
of the crowded city; somewhere among
| the mountains or upon the seashore-
any place that would not. take her too
far from me. At first sh9 fatty refused
to leave me alone.
~ cannot consent to go, Ethel" she
said. +" I must not leave you alone in
this great city, and you compelled to
earn our daily bread. / could not have
the heart 70 leave you hard at work
while I idled away my time and--"
But | stopped all these objections
with a tender kiss.
"Mamma, you had better 60" / said
seriously. II insist upon it. And,
dear, if You take no care of your health,
we may be forced to part-a long, long
parting, mamma"
She sat buried in thought for a time;
then she kissed me tenderly, and l
could see that there tears in her
soft eyes. But the matter was settled;
she would 60 to the mountains, a few
hours journey upon the railroad, where
some old friends lived.
DR.. Thorpe and his good wife would
gladly welcome her, and she would have
the best Of care. So she had gone; the
weeks had rolled by very slowly, for ]
missed her so, and then this clear Sep
TENDER morning, all unexpected, this
telegram smote dowh ON me like q
Bow.
I was all alone in the Office, it hap
pened, when the telegram arrived.
bowed my head upon the desk before
me, aud gave way to bitter grief.
Could I live without my motherq
was not like other girls. | had no lover,
few friends. The lonely future stretch.
ed out before me was appalling. For q
time | wept and sobbed bitterly; then !
was recalled to duty by the entrance
of Mr.. Renshawe, my employer. / laid
the telegram in his hand. He glanced
1t over, aud a look Of compassion came
into his kindly eyes.
Dear! dear How unfortunate!" he
exclaimed. "You must go, Miss Ethel,
of course; first train-no delay. All,
that is it. Train leaves at noon pre-.
cisely; it is now ten. Go right home,
| Miss Ethel. and make your prepare.
tons. Stay You had better write q
reply to this telegram"
l seized apsncil and scrubbed hastily,
"Shall start at Neetme at
train without fail E.1.D
I decided to. send the Telegram. to DR..
Thorpe himself: which having been
done, I hurried home to tbs neat cot
tage where mother and Lived with a
good old woman who kat the Shouse
home-like for us; and there I tonN my
sad story, and hastily lacked a ttspk
and a small yalise. -
] was in readiness Wien the Carl "
which Mr.. Renshawe indy sent foIdu
drove up; and in a sh9ee time / wasAse
board the eastern train, aud goinga4
fast as ear could bear me to my poor
mothers side.
Would | find her worse, Or ]
could not finish; my thoughts could 60
no further; ] nestled in q cerner of the
seat and watched the flying panorama
without with weary, ~listless eyes.
The hours few by; the sun set in the
midst OF picturesque surroundings.
Iknew that Id three or four hours I
would reach Cranstown, the littleosta-
ton nesting at the very foot of the
great mountains. q
And then | began to reflect upon the
situation, and wonder what DR.. Thorpe
was like.
/ had never met him or his vito,
though they were dear friends of my
mothers; but at that small stopping
place ! could have no aiculty ID
identifying my expected as1Sft.
With my thoughts busy, and an I'M
spoken prayer in my heart that [ would
fad moth i better, / waited. and the
train rolled on.
After a time it began to slacken speed.
!. Cranstownen was shouted lnstily; ]
gathered my few belongings together
aud rose to- my feet.
1t was b dark night-ah exceedingly
dark night. My watch. at which / had
just glanced, told the hour of ten.
] Was faint and weary, and scarcely.
knew what Was- doing as I followed
the courteous conductor ont upon the
platform ; a moment later I was depos-
tied npon the ground, bag and baggage.
and with d mnned roar the train sped
on lie way.
I peered about me through the dark
ness. was standing near the railroad
track, with the, platform of q country
depot close at hand.
A lantern swung from the front Of
the low wooden building. and threw q
sickly yellow glare for 8 few feet
around.
a strange feeling Of loneliness crept
over my heart i turned to enter the
depot. Just then d tall form arose be-
fore ME, GO suddenly that I started and
uttered a low cry, and a mans voice
spoke softly a high-bred, well-modu-
lated voice
!. I knew yon would come. All the
Others declared that you would not /;
butt
! Would not. indeed ln j interrupt
ed him Indignantly. Good heavens
what do you mean Or. Thorpe Z Isup-
post this il DR.. Thorpem
BY the dim light I could Sc him bow.
il course | You're up TO your old
Jokes, / see. Come Ethel, the carriage
Is waiting, and We have . fearful drive
before as. Ten long miles. Do yen
think sen can endure 1t e
fit ny face flush as ! turned an
grily
c0n4 antTure torksrHs Ia reach